YAMAHA RX-V385 5.1-Channel 4K Ultra HD AV Receiver with Bluetooth
Best for
Best budget
Amazon rating
Amazon aggregate, one input among many in the Verdict Score
Based on 1 trusted source
Current price
$379.95
Updated May 18, 2026 · 1 min read
Sources behind this verdict
10 reviewers weighted by source trust
The consensus
What reviewers found
Synthesized across the trust-weighted source mix below.
Across the reviewers we read, the Yamaha RX-V385 is the most-purchased budget AVR in this field by a wide margin — 3,318 Amazon reviews at a 4.5 average — and crutchfield.com verified-purchase customers consistently praise its setup ease and sound quality as a replacement for older receivers. thetechholics.com describes it as a modest 70W-per-channel unit well suited to small rooms. The high-trust caveat is loud and clear: r/hometheater threads bluntly state the RX-V385 'does not support most HDMI 2.1 features such as 4K 120Hz video' and one widely-upvoted comment argues it's 'only worth $250-300' at street prices, criticizing Yamaha for holding MSRP since 2018.
What reviewers liked
- Largest verified-purchase sample in this field (3,318 reviews, 4.5 average) with consistent praise for sound and setup
- crutchfield.com verified buyers describe it as an easy, reliable replacement for older receivers
- Compact footprint and simple YPAO calibration suit small-room 5.1 setups
- Lowest entry price among the AVRs we evaluated
Where it falls short
- r/hometheater consensus is blunt that it lacks proper HDMI 2.1 features (no 4K/120Hz, no VRR)
- Multiple high-trust community comments argue the MSRP hasn't dropped despite the platform aging since 2018
- Only 5.1 channels — no Atmos, no height channel support
- No room to add an external amp; not a platform that grows with the user
Across the reviewers we read, the Yamaha RX-V385 is the most-purchased budget AVR in this field by a wide margin — 3,318 Amazon reviews at a 4.5 average — and crutchfield.com verified-purchase customers consistently praise its setup ease and sound quality as a replacement for older receivers. thetechholics.com describes it as a modest 70W-per-channel unit well suited to small rooms.
The high-trust caveat is loud and clear: r/hometheater threads bluntly state the RX-V385 'does not support most HDMI 2.1 features such as 4K 120Hz video' and one widely-upvoted comment argues it's 'only worth $250-300' at street prices, criticizing Yamaha for holding MSRP since 2018. Another thread questions why Yamaha still sells it unchanged. So the picture is: real value at a discount, mediocre value at MSRP.
For buyers with a 4K/60Hz TV, no current-gen console, and a basic 5.1 speaker package, the consensus is that it's a competent, reliable entry point — and the Amazon sample size suggests few owners regret it. For anyone with a PS5, Xbox Series X, or a 120Hz display, the community consensus is to skip it entirely and step up to a current-gen Denon or Onkyo.
- 5.1-Channel powerful surround sound.Audio Delay
- Yes (0-500 ms). Extensive Connection - HDMI CEC : Yes.
- Bluetooth for wireless connectivity
- HDMI 2.1 with HDCP 2.2 (4-in/1-out)
- 4K Ultra HD support, HDR10, Dolby vision, hybrid log-gamma and BT.2020
- YPAO auto-calibration technology for ideal sound
RX-V385 does not support most HDMI 2.1 features such as 4K 120Hz video. It is a super entry level model that is only worth $250-300.
It seems like a waste to use HDMI 2.0 and limit my 120hz 4k TV to 60hz. I also would be watching pretty much exclusively Blu Ray rips but won't ...
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“Yamaha RX” · V385 5.1 AV Receiver Review
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